ISLAMABAD, June 19: The budget session of the Senate was prorogued on Tuesday amid opposition protests and a walkout in protest against the ‘bulldozing’ of a bill empowering the government to extend or shorten the tenure of any Nadra official.
The opposition blamed Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro for allowing the treasury to rush through the Nadra Ordinance (amendment) Bill 2007 without debate or amendments.
Later at a news conference in the parliament house, opposition leaders alleged that the legislation passed was the first step towards rigging the upcoming general elections.
The house strongly condemned the British government for knighting the controversial author Salman Rushdie and demanded withdrawal of the award.
“The Senate of Pakistan expresses its strong condemnation on blatant disregard of the sensitivity of Muslims worldwide by the British government by awarding knighthood to Salman Rushdie, who had committed blasphemy against a pillar of Islam, the persona of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” a resolution moved by both side stated.
Leader of Opposition Mian Raza Rabbani tore up the copy of the agenda when Mr Soomro allowed the bill to amend the Nadra Ordinance, 2000, to be moved.
Mr Rabbani led the opposition’s walkout during which anti-Musharraf slogans were raised. The bill was passed without debate.
The proceedings were marred by exchange of harsh words between Mr Rabbani and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afghan Niazi and Mr Soomro.
Nisar Memon demanded submission of the National Assembly recommendations over the finance bill in the house.
Mr Rabbani supported him and said that if the recommendations still needed the prime minister’s approval then the impression that parliament was a mere rubber stamp was correct.
